Theoretical and Applied Veterinary Medicine (Nov 2022)
The efficiency of induction and synchronisation of sexual desire in goats
Abstract
One of the modern and widely used biotechnological methods for increasing the efficiency of animal reproduction is oestrus synchronization, which allows to reduce economic costs significantly. Using this method, a slight increase in the cost of processing animals is compensated by a significant decrease in labour costs, an increase in the technological efficiency of insemination and parturition, and the absence of costs for maintaining teasers. As a result, direct costs for reproduction might be reduced by a total of 50–60%. Induction and synchronization of sexual heat in goats have been used since the 1970s of the 20th century, however, in our country, such a biotechnological method of regulating reproductive function is just beginning to be practised, but the results of such implementations are not available in the literary sources. Therefore, the goal of our research was to determine the effectiveness of oestrus induction and synchronization in goats under specific farm conditions in Ukraine. The experiments were conducted between April 2021 and February 2022 in "Agrosvit" dairy farm in Shestakove village, Chuguyiv district, Kharkiv region, on goats of Alpine and Zaanen breeds, aged 2‒4 years, with a live weight of 35–55 kg. A total of 368 goats having ≤ 1 litre of milk production starting from the 180th day of lactation, were involved in this trial. The synchronization protocol included the insertion of an intravaginal sponge with progestogen (day 0) (Chronogest CR polyester-polyurethane vaginal sponge, 20 mg of chronolone, intravaginally), injections of prostaglandin (Oestrophan, 0.2 ml, intramuscularly), and chorionic gonadotropin (Sergon, 500 OD, 1 ml, intramuscularly) (day 9), removal of the progesterone sponge (day 11), detection of heat (day 12) and insemination (day 13). Pregnancy diagnosis was determined by ultrasound examination on day 40 after artificial insemination. In our studies, using an oestrus induction and synchronization protocol based on progestogen sponge, prostaglandin and chorionic gonadotropin, 93.7% of treated goats were inseminated with a fertility rate of 158.9%. According to the results of the study, it can be concluded that oestrus induction and synchronization in goats is an effective biotechnological technique that allows increasing the efficiency of the use of genetic resources of high-value animals significantly, to increase the scale of their participation in the process of reproduction of livestock while maintaining a high level of physiological functions of the reproductive system. In particular, such studies will help to determine the most appropriate oestrus synchronization protocol and to better understand the effect on sexual behaviour and hormonal influence, and to inseminate goats at the most optimal time, in a short time, with a shortened period of kidding.
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